Police arrest man for robbery of Girl Scouts selling cookies

Thursday, February 28, 2013

By Journal Register News Service

TREDYFFRIN —Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the robbery of Girl Scouts at the Pathmark Store in late January.

Jevon Michael Avis, 31, formerly of the 300 block of Beechwood Road, Berwyn, most recently residing on the 100 block of South West Street in Carlisle, was recently arraigned on theft-related charges in Cumberland County and held in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

Avis allegedly confessed to additional crimes after his arrest, including the robbery of the Girl Scouts on Jan. 20, police said.

An investigation of that incident began Jan. 20 at approximately 5 p.m. when Tredyffrin Township Police received a report of a robbery at the Pathmark Store, 450 W. Swedesford Road, in the Berwyn section of the township.

According to police, a white man described as being of medium height and weight, between 20 and 30 years of age, wearing a dark colored head covering, a dark colored shirt and light colored pants, approached members of Girl Scout Troop 4306 as they were selling cookies from a table inside the store.

Police said the man took an unknown amount of cash from a plastic donation container intended to benefit U.S.troops before reaching into a cash box containing money from the Girl Scouts’ cookie sales, taking approximately $20. The Girl Scouts quickly closed the box before the man could take any more money and he quickly fled to the rear-west side of building where he entered a blue vehicle and left, according to police.

Avis’ preliminary hearing on the theft from the Girl Scoutshas not yet been scheduled.